Shailesh Vyas
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Shailesh Vyas July 29, 1972, Male, Married English, Hindi, Gujarati, Kutchi Home: Office: ‘Ridhi – Sidhi’ Arid Communities and Technologies B/H Dena Bank, Hospital Road, Vijaynagar 6, Vijay Apartment, Opp. Town Hall Bhuj, Kachchh, 370 001 Bhuj, Kachchh, 370 001 Ph: 91-2832-222806 (R), 919825857182 (M) Ph: 91-2832-309633 (O) E-mail:[email protected] Education Degree Institution Distinction Year Post Graduate Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment, New Passed out in First 1999 Diploma in Ecology Delhi Division and Environment B.Sc. (Agriculture) N. M. Collage of Agriculture, Navsari of Gujarat Passed out in First 1994 Agricultural University, S. K. Nagar Division (6.9 OGPA out of 10) Dissertation: Post graduate Diploma in Ecology and Environment Dryland Cultivation in Kachchh: Perspectives, Problems and Prospects Work Experience Since March 1994, I have been working with Sahjeevan (formerly known as Jan Vikas Ecology Cell), Bhuj, a voluntary organization working on the eco-restoration and development aspects of the Kachchh region of Gujarat State. It emphasizes on empowering the rural communities to make choices for development through an active process of organizing and lobbying. It supports its activities by research and development studies to generate sustainable livelihoods. Sahjeevan operates through three main units namely Water Resources Unit, Biomass Unit, and Human Institution Development Unit. My responsibilities though spread across all the units, I focused on the activities of the Biomass Unit since the beginning and grew with the Unit to be entrusted with responsibility of leading the Unit in 1996. Currently I hold the position of Program Coordinator (since 1998) that adds further responsibilities that influence policies and strategic decisions of the organization. Biomass unit’s activities spread across the following activities: soil and moisture conservation (watershed development), fodder banking, grassland development and management, joint forest management, organic farming, organic produce marketing, household technologies like gobar gas, etc. and recently she has started working with fishing community. The specific responsibilities and activities that I was involved are described below. Recently (February 2004) with my collogue we have established the organization named Arid Communities and Technologies with aim to strengthen livelihood of communities in arid and semi-arid regions irrespective of their race, cast, community or creed by resolving ecological constrains through, provision or facilitation of access to technologies or generate technological or institutional solutions in collaboration with communities. Dryland Agriculture Study and analysis of dryland agriculture in Pachchham Island to identify problems associated and develop an approach for dryland agriculture development. It involved action research through setting up an expert farmer group to develop the approach. Study to identify characteristics of indigenous field race of Bajra group from its phenotypes in Pachchham Island. Extended support to Abdasa Mahila Vikas Sanghathan to successfully establish a seed bank Study to understand the impact of various soil and moisture conservation works on dryland agriculture productive in Pachchham Island. Facilitated the Dador village committee to undertake implementation of soil and moisture conservation works for dryland agriculture improvement. Study of potential for green marketing of dryland products to link with green markets in Mumbai. Irrigated Agriculture Study of economics involved in growing various horticultural crops relevant to Kachchh Curriculum Vitae-Shailesh Vyas-23/4/2004 1 Implemented establishment of gene bank of horticultural plants species for Pachchham Island at a demonstration farm at Khawada. Organized and conducted experiments o to grow horticultural plants for desert conditions in Pachchham Island o for screening of horticultural plants species that grow in moderately saline water application at Khavada demonstration farm. Facilitated implementation of an irrigation dam at Uthangadi village of Nakhatrana taluka and its management through community participation Animal Husbandry and Grasslands Studied grassland and its floral bio diversity of village Laiyari of Nakhatrana taluka. Established a fodder bank and its management system for village Laiyari of Nakhatrana taluka. Designed and implemented grassland regeneration in Laiyari, Tal and Dador villages of Nakhatrana taluka. This project spread over 275 ha. of land both in hilly and flat terrain and also covers some saline land. Support and guidance for a study on Grassland Mapping of the Nani Banni Area in Kachchh using Satellite Data and GIS, a student project, Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal Conducted study on bullock trade from Pachchham Region. Forestry Facilitated implementation of forestry plot without irrigation by Dador village committee of Nakhatrana Taluka under Joint Forest Management Scheme Study of potential for minor forest produce for the forestry forestry project Fisheries Coordinating a study socio-economics of fishermen households of Mundra taluka. Involved in Paghadiya Fisherman Rehabilitation Programme in Shekhadiya village of Mundra taluka after the cyclone of 1998 Ground Water Involved in designing and implementing a groundwater recharge experiment at village Khari of Pachchham Island Undergone training for geophysical investigation for ground water exploration Drought Proofing - Reduction of Household Vulnerability At present, I am developing a concept and methodology to derive vulnerability status of the households towards the drought at different extent in rural areas especially when the income sources are as diverse as agriculture and livestock and natural resource base as well as non-natural resources. Preparation of a Micro Level Action Plan with keeping in view the Reduction of Household Vulnerability for four diverse villages of Kachchh. Agriculture Action Plan for the Kachchh District At present, I am working on the preparation of Agriculture Action Plan for the Kachchh District funded by United Nation Development Programme and The Royal Embassy of The Netherlands through Environmental Planning Collaborative. I am the team leader for the Agriculture Action Plan. Planning exercise has involved several case studies, consultation with farmers, research institutes and government officials, workshops with various stockholders. Preparation of the final report is in the progress. Watershed Development Watershed development planning and implementation in Khari village, Pachchham Island, with focus on soil and moisture conservation Watershed development planning and implementation in Laiyari village, Nakhatrana taluka with focus on grass and fodder generation to strengthen animal husbandry Development of proposals for watershed development in Tal and Dador villages of Nakhatrana taluka for support from District Rural Development Agency Involved in developing a methodology resource mapping and planning of watershed through participatory rural appraisal. Attended a workshop organized by NABARD to introduce their watershed development programme in Gujarat at Ahmedabad. Attended a workshop organized by CAPART to introduce their watershed development programme in Gujarat at Gandhinagar. Drinking Water and Sanitation Involved in designing and budgeting for upgradation of traditional drinking water pond to reduce evaporation losses during summer months at Shinapar village (previously known as Dhedhapar), Lakhpat taluka Supported the Baraya village committee of Mundra taluka to plan and implement upgradation works of village drinking water pond through community participation, ‘shramdan’ Facilitated villagers and Mahila Mandal of Bhadreshwar and Ramaniya villages in Mundra taluka to implement rural sanitation programme in their villages. Disaster Management Involved in assessment of damages caused by the cyclone of 1998 to Bhujpur village of Mundra taluka. Curriculum Vitae-Shailesh Vyas 2 Member of Task Force for the gigantic task of assessing the damages caused by cyclone of 1999 by surveying more than 100 villages of Abdasa and Lakhpat taluka and household survey of 13 coastal villages of Lakhpat taluka Facilitated villages of Mundra taluka to establish ‘SETU’ to coordinate relief and rehabilitation activities after Bhuj Earthquake 2001. Was in-charge for repairing the Faradi Minor Irrigation dam of Kachchh district, which was severely damaged in the Bhuj Earthquake 2001. The task was to complete the work in the shortest possible time. Training Organization of exposure trips for men and women farmers of Pachchham, Nakhatrana and Mundra taluka to Alwar, Rajasthan Member of training committee to develop curriculum for training work force rural development in Kachchh conducted by the Kutch Nav Nirman Abhiyan Developed training module on dryland farming, its problem analysis and solutions for dryland farmers of Pachchham Island and Nakhatrana taluka. Underwent training module of Ecology of Kachchh, technical aspects in watershed development, Social aspects in natural resource management, Animal husbandry in Kachchh for the training programme to prepare work force of youth for rural development. Kutch Nav Nirman Abhiyan runs this programme. Was involved in preparation of training material on several technical and ecological aspects. Important conferences and workshops participated Participated in an international conference on infrastructure